The Canadian Media Guild is referring the grievance dealing with the current round of layoffs to arbitration. The Guild has proposed a number of potential arbitrators. TVOntario is now required to either agree with one of the names we have proposed, or propose its own. If the two sides can’t agree on an arbitrator, we can ask the provincial Minister of Labour to appoint one.

We had hoped that TVOntario management would agree with our proposal in April for mediation, which would be a simpler, less costly and quicker way to resolve our differences on this issue. Unfortunately, the Authority still hasn’t responded to our proposal ? nor have we even had any formal response to the grievance itself. We thus have no other option than to have a third party rule on whether TVOntario has the right to act as it did on the layoffs.

We are well aware of the fact that some of the people affected by these layoffs may already be laid off, or may have already found other employment. This does not mean that you fall “off the radar” as far as this grievance is concerned. All those affected by the layoffs will be considered in resolving the grievance.

Please make sure the Guild executive at TVOntario has up-to-date contact information for you. E-mail addresses are particularly useful, since they will allow the Guild’s national office to contact you directly if we need to.

If you have any questions about the arbitration process, please contact Keith Maskell at the Guild office at 416-591-5333 or 1-800-465-4149, or write to keith@cmg.ca . You can also contact Carol Burtin Fripp at cbf@tvo.org or call 416-484-2628.